Beta read by: Crescent Sunrise

recommended story: "Fate Recondite" by Ravoleck

~MG~

Dr. Madison Green was on her very much deserved break. One of few doctors willing to continuously work to heal the would-be huntsmen and huntresses that pass through the halls of Beacon Academy. The number is few, not because the job is thankless, it's just that normal teenagers are uncooperative.

Give those same teenagers Semblances, an amazing ability like Aura, and train them to use weapons and slay monsters, and you see uncooperative turn to hair pulling frustration as the doctor tries to keep order and stop young idiots with too much confidence and not enough self-preservation from rushing back out and getting themselves killed. This is when they aren't finding new and interesting ways to try the patience of their care givers out of hormone induced boredom.

Dr. Green occasionally wonders if she could actually get away with strapping down all of her student patients to their beds and feeding them through tubes until they are ready to head out and injure themselves again. Unfortunately every time she has made the suggestion she has been summarily shot down.

The school doesn't have the budget for the number of straps needed to hold down some of the stronger students.

This of course has led to the doctor coming up with other methods by which to maintain control over her domain. Rewards for cooperative patients. Letting small infractions slip by so long as there is no risk to their health. Punishments such as the banning of guests, substituting the meals with more efficient methods such as the nutrient bars, and in the most stubborn cases, IV feeds. And while she might not have gotten enough for every patient coming through her ward she did manage to get a few straps 'for emergencies.'

With a roll of her eyes she looks over her patient list while sipping at a cup of tea letting the calming fluid warm her throat and chest as she swallows.

Her previous patient left a bad taste in her mouth that the tea just couldn't wash out. The life of a huntsmen or huntress is bound to attract all types. From the rich and famous to the poor and down trodden. Every walk of life is represented for one reason or another. You had your young heroes training to fight for the good of everyone. Your social climbers using the position to give them a leg up to a better life than what they had before. The haughty upper class either with something to prove or feeling the need to somehow honor their family name in combat. And finally, the ruffians who see it as an excuse to be violent and get paid well for it. Of course there are exceptions and one should never make assumptions.

But her last patient was one of the last type. Rowdy, uncooperative, an over inflated sense of self-worth and a nasty confrontational attitude. Yet by the way he dressed, he didn't come from a privileged background. A rough life leading to rougher edges with a chip on his shoulder and the belief the world owes him something? Not the doctor's job to wonder over. She's here to patch him up and get him back to training, not diagnose personality disorders.

With a scowl she turns the page and finds her bad mood lessening, somewhat at least, while looking over her patient list for the rest of the evening.

'Next is the Zedong girl. She would be an ideal patient if she would just cut back on the flirting. I've seen her with her girlfriend so I know she doesn't mean anything by it, but I don't think she realizes how uncomfortable it can make someone at times.' Dr. Green thinks taking another sip as she flips through the pages in her folder idly. 'Really, I would prefer having a nurse helping her bathe but I won't force them when they're nervous about her making suggestive comments about it. Someone who doesn't know, or doesn't care, it's a joke that could create quite a problem for us.'

She looks at her Scroll before closing it and setting it back in her pocket. Her break is almost over and it's time to check in on the young heroine.

'And isn't that something impressive. She's very humble about the whole thing. I can't tell if it's worrying that she doesn't bask in it like her teammates or something to be admired about her. Either way it's nice to see she doesn't let the attention go to her head. Perhaps I should ease up on her flirting punishments, it's mostly harmless and I doubt she's aware of the potential issues.'

The doctor considers before nodding to herself and turning the cover of her folder backwards before attaching it to a clipboard to leave Zedong's patient file open. Next she drains her tea and stands up to leave the office. Clipboard in hand, lab coat smoothed down. Hair fixed and stern expression on her face. There were rumors she and Glynda were related. It wasn't true, but being compared so evenly to the taciturn huntress does bring a small amount of pleasure to the good doctor.

That neither her nor Goodwitch have ever commented on the rumors even when asked only fanned the flames of it and provided no small amount of amusement for them both.

It's with a small smirk on her lips she opens the door to May's room before opening her mouth as she walks in. Her eyes closed to afford her charge a moment of privacy in order to cover herself should she be any kind of indecent. "And how is the heroine today? I haven't heard about you harassing my nursing staff yet. I hope it means you're feeling-"

Her words are cut off when her nose catches the familiar scent of cleaning oil used by hunters to clean their weapons. Designed to render Dust inert and remove its residue from the inner workings of their tools of trade. She leaves her eyes closed counting backwards from ten in her mind as her grip tightens on her clipboard.

'She's an intelligent young woman. I'm sure when I open my eyes everything will be perfectly fine. That oil is used by all of them and her girlfriend is enthusiastic about weapons, she probably just got some on herself and it permeated the room while she was here last. There's no way Miss Zedong would be stupid enough to bring a weapon into my ward.'

With that the doctor opens her eyes and has to resist the sudden urge to injure her patient further.

~MZ~

May has a small contented smile on her lips as she takes apart her rifle. A small assortment of rods and clean white fabrics with a container of oil neatly set on one side of the table usually meant for holding her food tray while a towel lies over the rest of the surface. Clean but with dark spots of old stains that wouldn't leave the fabric. Slowly pieces of her rifle are laid out starting with her axe blade and spring, then the barrel, trigger assembly, and frame.

'I hate that I had to put this off so long with being apart from my weapon and supplies, and then longer while being sick. I am not willing to get mucus inside my gun. Glad I got Ruby to open the window though. The smell would be stifling if I didn't.'

Item by item she slowly starts cleaning the parts. Rubbing them down with the oil and letting it set before wiping them clean, a small pile of used rags accumulating in an open plastic bag. Her work punctuated by classical music playing from her scroll.

She was just oiling up the inside of the barrel with the long cleaning rod when she hears her doctor's voice and freezes up. Her head swiveling to the door closing automatically behind her doctor. She watches as the small smile on Doctor Green's face twitches almost in time with a vein on her forehead.

Slowly, May reaches out a hand to cut off her music only for her doctor's eyes to open and look directly at her and the half-finished cleaning project.

"Um... It's not what it looks like?" May tries sheepishly her voice reduced to a weak chuckling as she slowly sets down the barrel leaving the rod inside for the moment.

"Oh? Because it looks like you're cleaning a gun. A gun you have in your room. Your room that is inside my ward. My ward that is located in Beacon's infirmary. A place where I am god and weapons are not allowed in the hands of patients. That's what it looks like, yes?" Doctor Green replies through gritted teeth. Her fingers white knuckled and shaking where they hold onto the clipboard. "So do please tell me. If it's not what it looks like. What is it?"

'Ooooh I'm in so much trouble. She looks pissed.'

May gulps audibly before clearing her throat and opening her mouth to say anything before letting out a sigh and sulking. "It's exactly what it looks like." She says her eye returning to her half finished work with a forlorn expression. Really, it was a matter of time before she got caught, but, she at least wanted to finish her cleaning before that happened.

The doctor looks torn between ripping into her and throwing something heavy at her when she takes a long breath and asks a simple one word question between clenched teeth. "Why?"

May shifts a bit uncomfortably before answering, suddenly feeling like a very small child. "A few reasons. I was bored and wanted something to do. My rifle needed cleaning after the last mission and if I let it sit much longer the Dust residue might have messed it up. And well, I'm uncomfortable without having it around. I've had it with me since I made it, with only a few exceptions. It's the first thing I reach for when I wake up." The sniper explains weakly. Her eyes drifting back to the parts assembled in front of her.

"I'll tell you I didn't ask them to bring it to me, but I'm grateful they did. Just having it around has been nice." She adds turning to look back to the doctor who now has her face hidden by her hand. Index finger and thumb rubbing at her temples as if trying to remove a forming headache.

May remains in her forlorn position her eye drawn back to her weapon. Logically she knows that she shouldn't have it here but she hadn't really meant any harm in keeping it. And after Ruby went through the trouble of bringing it she really hadn't wanted to ask her to put it back.

'Not to mention how much more comfortable I've been since she brought it.'

The sniper hadn't noticed her doctor's hand coming away but she did notice when she started moving. Looking up from her parts only to quail under the harsh look from her care giver. She remains pinned in place by that look for a long moment before two of her rags are picked up and handed to her directly.

"Wrap up the blade and the magazine. I'll give them back when you're discharged."

The words don't sink in right away as May stares back in confusion, that slowly changes to shock. 'Did she just say...? Is she offering...?'

She is jolted out of her moment of shock with a snap of fingers from the good doctor and immediately bundles up the axe blade and magazine, making sure to put several layers of cloth around the sharp blade for the sake of safety before handing them over.

"I'll leave the window open for now. Just finish what you're doing and have it out of the way before your next meal. If it gets in the way of your treatment I will have it removed entirely." Dr. Green says before doing her usual checks and heading out the door leaving an awed May behind staring after her, wondering how she managed to get by not only without a lashing, verbal or otherwise, but also keep her weapon.

'I think I missed something important.'

~RR~

Ruby groans softly as she shifts in her bed, eyes refusing to open as she tries to seek the sweet oblivion of sleep once again. However something keeps her away and it takes her mind a moment to register that there's a body pressing down gently over her own. That sets off a note of panic as she slowly lifts the covers to get a peek at her night time visitor, only to see a familiar head of dusky rose colored hair pressing against her stomach just under the budding swell of her breasts.

"M-May? What are you doing here? How did you even get up here?" Ruby asks as May was supposed to be released later today. She had planned to be there for it!

At the sound of her name, one of those blue steel eyes cracks open. A lazy grin crossing her lips as she shifts to plant her elbows on either side of Ruby's waist. Her chin supported on her knuckles as she stares back at the young team leader. Patiently waiting for the questions to stop before answering.

"I got released early. It was a bit late last night and I wanted to see you, so I came by to visit. Of course you were all asleep, so I thought it might be nice to join you. As for how I got up well... Let's just say I did so very carefully. It was a little complicated." The sniper replies her body shifting a bit in place when suddenly something else occurs to Ruby.

She can feel May's skin against her stomach where her top has ridden up.

Slowly Ruby slips a hand past May's head to run from her shoulder and down her back where the younger girl can't see with the blanketing still covering May below the neck.

"M-May? Are you naked?" Ruby asks with a nervous whisper.

"Well... I don't know about you, but with two bodies under here already it was plenty warm already. And I didn't have my pajamas. I hope you don't mind." May replies with half lidded eyes. Shifting her upper body side to side as she wiggles her way a little higher. Ruby's face flushing, and not just from embarrassment when she feels May's lips starting to nip at her neck.

Ruby squirms a little as she feels the snipers fingers pressing against the skin of her waist before slowly sliding up and under her top, teasing along her sides but refusing to touch the more sensitive areas, driving another spike of needy frustration into the young reaper as she bites back a whine.

The lips trailing up over her draw towards her ear before gently nipping the lobe don't help the situation either. Nor the words that leave them.

"I'm not sure I can hold myself back anymore Little Red... I know I said when you're sixteen, but you're just so beautiful. I want you Ruby, may I?" She asks softly, her hot breath sending a shudder through Ruby's center that seeps into her lower body where it warms with a pleasant and desperate tingle.

There's only one response Ruby can give because words are currently failing her. A soft moan and the nod of her head.

A lusty grin crosses May's lips as she pulls back, eyeing Ruby for a long moment. "Don't worry Ruby. I know just what to do." She says as she slides lower under the covers of the blanketing. Hiding her actions from sight as first, one of her hands can be felt pressing gently against the skin of Ruby's exposed stomach and sliding lower. The tips teasing just over the edge of Ruby's pajamas before slowly starting to dip under them.

"You just need to do one thing first Little Red." May comments as her fingers tease their way down achingly slow drawing a groan from the shorter girl.

"Wh-what is it?" She asks her body coiled with nervous tension mixed with desperate want and pent up desire.

"You need to wake up." May replies with a mischievous smirk that infuriates and excites her.

Then the words penetrate.

"What?"

May's mouth opens again and this time it's not her voice that emerges but that of the younger girls partner. "Wake up Ruby. You've slept in but classes are starting soon."

In horror Ruby watches the world bleed into nothingness before the curse of consciousness kicks in and she becomes aware of herself, in her bed, under her blankets, sweating, and gently flushed.

No May.

There is however a hand of her own under her pajamas that is wet, warm, and somewhat sticky.

This was not the first dream she had had of her lovely girlfriend and she was sure it wouldn't be the last. But it never stopped being embarrassing to wake up like this. Seeing the older girl naked had not helped the situation in the slightest.

What might be worse is that Blake always seemed too amused when it happened, as if perfectly aware of what was going on with Ruby.

At least she was keeping it to herself and hadn't told Yang.

Yet.

"Are you feeling alright Rubes? You were groaning a bit and you look like you have a fever." Yang asks reaching up to set the back of her hand against Ruby's forehead for a moment before pulling it away with a frown. "You're all sweaty and clammy too. Maybe you should stay in bed? I know you wanted to see May get released, but I doubt she would want you to push yourself if you're sick." The blonde comments.

"Give her a bit Yang. We can head on to breakfast and Ruby can join us if she feels up to it. Ruby, take you time, if you don't feel up to joining us we'll bring you back something and let the teachers know you're unwell." Blake suggests hiding the knowing wink she sends from behind Yang.

'Thank Oum for Blake. Embarrassing as it is that she knows what happened, at least she's willing to cover for me.' Ruby thinks, giving her teammate a grateful look.

"Thanks Blake. I'll do that. Go ahead team, I'll be there in a bit. Just a bit queasy this morning." She offers watching as Yang and Weiss reluctantly leave the room with Blake before shooting to the bathroom in a cloud of rose petals and embarrassment.

~RR~

There was no other word that could properly describe the youngest team leader in the history of Beacon besides ecstatic. She spent the morning following her awkward wake up and quick shower darting around, trying to rush through everything else as if by doing so she could make time move faster.

It didn't.

Something which would aggravate her if she weren't already so deliriously happy. Her good mood and darting about garnering amusement and frustration from her team and friends, with her teachers only feeling the latter with the rapid impatient tapping of her foot during classes disturbing the peace of their lectures.

"So, why is she all excited again? I don't think I've ever seen her this worked up before." Jaune asks the speedster's older sister as the group makes their way towards the cafeteria.

"Oh she's just happy May is getting out of the infirmary today. She still has PT to go through, but she won't be bed ridden anymore. It'll be nice having my gym buddy back." Yang replies, her arms folded behind her head as they continue walking.

"We've been hearing your team talking about her often, though I haven't seen her around." Ren comments softly before Nora bursts into the conversation with her usual enthusiasm.

"Yeah! When do we get to meet Ruby's girlfriend. She's not embarrassed of us is she?"

"I'm sure that's not the case. But it is a bit curious that she doesn't seem to be around very much." Pyrrha interjects, and this time it's actually Weiss that responds.

"Well, I don't think she's avoiding you. Before the mission she went on, they spent most of their time in the mornings after working out and in the evenings after classes. The times just don't line up all too often." The heiress explains with a shrug.

Meanwhile Ruby is left humming to herself as she walks at the head of the group. Still happy, but having calmed somewhat after being told off by Professor Port for her behavior in class.

'I guess I was being a bit distracting but it's just so hard to sit still when May is finally getting out today! At least Oobleck seemed to understand when he asked me what was going on.'

Sobered somewhat by her thoughts, she nevertheless finishes her lunch quickly before nearly pushing her team back out the doors and towards the infirmary, eager to be there for May's release and unwilling to wait for them to get there when they try to move at a more sedate pace.

She would just run ahead but they said they wanted to come along too, and leaving them behind would be rude. So she pushes them along until Yang gets tired of it and picks her younger sister up, slinging the red caped girl over her shoulder ignoring the way she kicks at the air and hits the blondes back before giving up with a pout.

"Thank you Yang. That was becoming quite annoying." Weiss comments as they walk. JNPR follows behind, polite smiles from Ren and Pyrrha while Jaune gives the pouting Ruby a raised eyebrow and Nora snickers, getting a raspberry from the little leader.

"Ruby, I will put you down if you calm down. We have plenty of time. Unless you want me to carry you into the infirmary?" Yang asks, laughing as the struggling resumes.

"Yang put me down! The teasing will never end! I won't rush you anymore I promise." Ruby capitulates, very much not wanting to be presented to her girlfriend rear first. She huffs when she is finally put down crossing her arms as they keep walking. But inevitably, her good mood returns and when they do make it to the infirmary they're all smiles.

JNPR and the rest of her team choose to wait in the reception area while Ruby heads to meet May to avoid irritating Doctor Green by crowding the snipers room.

Ruby walks in to see May sliding her arms into the sleeves of her favorite jacket. The front left open with her hat tucked into a pocket. It says how much she cares about the beanie that she doesn't like being parted from it much, even if she's taken to wearing the eye patch more often now.

Still, even with the past few weeks of bed rest her core muscles seem to be in decent shape from what Ruby can see peaking from underneath the black tank top May has on under her jacket. The machine that had been connected to her thigh lays on a counter while the sniper looks relieved to be wearing her track pants. Doctor Green stands there with narrowed eyes watching May finish dressing herself before unfolding the wheelchair and moving it next to May's bed.

"Doc, you sure I need that? I've been feeling fine for a while now." May asks, getting an irritable sigh from the medical professional.

"Fine, tell you what. If you can take two steps away from your bed I'll keep the wheelchair." She offers, getting a grin from May as she eagerly swings herself sideways dangling her feet before easing herself from the bed with a frown as she puts her weight carefully on the limbs.

Ruby watches curiously along with the impassive doctor as May lifts her right foot to take a step and crashes to the ground when her left leg fails to hold her weight.

Ruby is already rushing forward to help her up and into the wheelchair while May grumbles darkly, a blush on her face, though Ruby can't tell if it's because of her proximity, because the sniper fell down, or because Ruby is seeing her like this. Likely a mix of the three.

"Look at that. Seems like you need the wheelchair after all. Want to question your doctor's orders any further, or are you done embarrassing yourself for the moment? There's a reason you have physical therapy Miss Zedong. I wasn't kidding when I mentioned all the damage to your muscles. While they have healed you'll have to work to get them strong enough to support your weight again." She comments in a dry tone before it softens a small amount upon noticing May's frustrated look. "Chin up, you're a trainee huntress with Aura. A civilian would have been in bed for a few months and PT won't take you nearly as long."

"And speaking of Aura." The Doctor trails off picking up an instrument and connecting it to May's Scroll for a moment before disconnecting it and watching the bar under May's name fill up. A percentage is noted underneath. "I need you to activate it."

With a grin on her lips May eagerly activates her Aura for the first time since waking up. Her skin emitting a soft glow that matches her hair color as a warm feeling like being wrapped in a heated blanket fills her. She smiles to herself as the glow slowly fades away while the doctor pokes and prods her, literally, and with a scalpel. Watching May's levels dip minutely as it protects her from the cutting implement.

"Very good. As you know, return tomorrow evening for PT. For now, you're free to go. Try not to do something stupid." The doctor adds while packing up her tools and grabbing the machine as she heads out, leaving May and Ruby alone in the room while the sniper grabs her rifle and slings it behind her chair.

Ruby leans down to hug her girlfriend happily, holding it for a long moment before giving May a soft kiss and pulling away before May can grab her and pull her in. They do have people waiting after all.

"Excited for your freedom May?" She asks walking around and taking the handles of the chair to push her girlfriend from the room.

"Absolutely. Now I can eat real food and actually go outside and visit the shooting range. Can't do much in the way of work outs until I'm cleared for more physically straining activity, but at least I'm mobile again." May replies leaning back in the chair letting her head tilt back so she can look up at Ruby. "And I haven't forgotten our plans. Tomorrow night?" She asks curiously.

"Yup, after you get out of therapy we'll head into Vale for our date. This time with an actual activity." Ruby mentions with a smile as they head down the hallway before May grips the wheels bringing them to a stop and drawing Ruby's attention back down.

"You're not disappointed about that are you?" May asks vaguely worried. It was both cute and frustrating. Rare were the moments the older girl looked vulnerable. Even when sick she usually just became grumpy. But she was still a bit nervous about messing up something in their relationship.

"No May, I'm fine with it. Best first date I've ever had." Ruby replies with a fond look.

"It's the only first date you've ever had." May replies with a deadpan look.

Ruby can only shrug in response. It was true after all. "Doesn't make it less true. Stop worrying about it May. We have plenty of time to do stuff. Just spending time together is the important part." She says before trying to push again and realizing the chair is still being held in place before lifting a curious brow at the smirking May. The look on her face rings alarm bells in Ruby's head. That way lies mischief. Unfortunately it doesn't seem avoidable.

"I want to make good on your promise Ruby." May responds causing Ruby to flush instantly. Having to make good on that promise following their meeting with Professor Ozpin after the CCT incident had been something of a reoccurring theme in her dreams.

Ruby gulps and shifts a bit nervously as she looks around the hall. "H-here? Now?" Ruby asks getting a nod from May as her sniper wheels herself forward and turns her chair around so she can wrap her arms around Ruby's waist not knowing how similar the position looks to the younger girl whose mind is already leaping to the start of her previous night's dream.

"Yup, here and now." May replies with a grin as she gazes up at her before leaning back into her chair and pulling Ruby into her lap so the shorter girl is seated on her right leg instead of the recovering left.

'Huh?'

Ruby's mind takes a moment to register the position as May starts wheeling them towards the entrance with a happy smile on her lips. "This is it, you just wanted me to sit in your lap?" Ruby questions looking at May with uncertain eyes.

May pauses and looks back at her searchingly before a naughty look crosses her face. Her eyes half lidded and reminding Ruby of her dream in a way that makes her squirm. "Why? Were you hoping I would try and get something… illicit, from you?" May asks whispering heatedly into Ruby's ear.

The blush that covers Ruby's skin once more is again, not completely from embarrassment as she draws her hood over her head, muttering darkly as May starts to laugh boisterously. Before lifting the hood enough to give the younger girl a cheeky wink. "Not until your birthday."

That does not make her blush lessen in the slightest as May wheels them onward.

Ruby considers dark and murderous ways to end her girlfriend before the sniper can do the same via embarrassment while pointedly ignoring the spike in anticipation that came with the not-quite-a-promise the older girl made about Ruby's next birthday.

~MZ~

As May wheels them out she blinks at the small crowd waiting for her in reception. A group of ten stands waiting for her, smiling and friendly as she approaches with Ruby pressed against her front. Her team she expected. She felt touched that Ruby's team had wanted to see her discharged as well. But the last four teens making up team JNPR she hadn't expected at all.

She hadn't even spoken to any of them before despite having seen them around occasionally, usually from a distance. Still, she knew of them enough to tell who's who from conversations with Ruby along with the knowledge that they are overall decent people. So she greets them with a polite smile.

"Hey guys, girls, and team JNPR right?" She says greeting first her team, then Ruby's before turning her attention to the newcomers. "It's nice to finally get a chance to meet you all. I'm May Zedong, Ruby's told me a lot about you. Well, I should say she's told me everything she's managed to learn about you during your first semester here." She adds, correcting herself as she wheels closer extending her hand first to the blonde. It's the appropriate choice as he's their team leader.

'He's got a good grip. Soft hands too, he must wear gloves. Ruby looks delicate, but one touch of her hand and you can feel her callouses from wielding Crescent Rose. I wonder how rough my hands are.' May ponders idly as she shakes hands with Jaune before wrapping her arms around Ruby's waist.

"I remember seeing you all at the dance. That was a very well-choreographed number you all performed. Did it take long to learn?" She asks recalling the short haired blonde wearing the frilly dress.

"Oh that? It was actually Nora's idea. We weren't sure if we would ever get a chance to use it but it was fun to learn." Jaune replies.

"Yes, she was quite excitable about it." Pyrrha adds, looking at the short orange haired girl with a fond smile.

"Of course I was!" The excitable Nora shouts, earning their group a reproachful look from some of the nursing staff with May taking it as a good time to leave. "It was awesome! I knew having a team dance would be a great idea. I mean of course it was I who thought of it but I had Ren help me with the routine so it was really more of a group thing you know?" She raves joining with the group as they head outside.

May wheels her chair on with her hands before getting a fun idea and gently pushes her chair with her Semblance while mimicking the motion with her hands.

'Oh this will be a fun way to practice fine control.' She considers as she proceeds onward near the middle of the group as they head towards the front of the school.

"You really do make colorful friends don't you Little Red." May whispers quietly into Ruby's ear as they move along. Glad Ruby has gotten herself under control enough to take her hood off again.

"They're good people. Just give them a chance and they'll prove it." Ruby replies just as quietly. Easing into her place in May's lap with growing comfort.

"Oh, I am. Invite the ones with guns to the shooting range some time." May offers in return her hands leaving the wheels as her partner moves behind her to take the handles and push, earning himself a grateful smile from the sniper as she wraps Ruby up again.

'Maybe the wheel chair isn't so bad.' A small grin creasing her lips as she tightens her hold on the little reaper.

AN

Hello everyone! So the chapter wasn't as short as I thought. but I also kinda pushed things along a bit because, as I mentioned in the previous chapters, there's only so much I can write about being in a hospital bed before the well dries up and I'm forced to write about the paint peeling on the walls. You don't want to read that. I don't want to write it. And there's so much left to get to!

Oh poor poor Ruby, just when it was getting good. Maybe next time. Bumped the rating as a precaution.

As always a special thank you to my wonderful Beta readers. Nuclear Breadstick, CinderBurn, Welldressednightmare, Shaded122, Yaksher, imoshen88 (I missed you!), kevindynamite, and MrFox7189 You guy's make writing these stories worth it.

That's all for now folks! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I love you, and I'll see you next time.